Science Fiction Reading in February 2017

[Westy]

Just finished Nnedi Okorafor's latest in the Binti series, Home.

Binti returns home after leaving Earth to attend the Oomza University, and now must face her people and her elders, whilst finding more about herself than she realised. Nnedi is an excellent writer; imaginative, purposeful, and always drawing from her Nigerian background in her stories.

I enjoyed this more than the first book Binti, mainly because it's longer (nearly 200 pages vs 100) so there's more breadth to tell the story. It does end a bit abruptly, but I just googled that the third book is written, so looking forward to that.

 

[Diosces]

I'm the same - a few popular SF books recently that I couldn't - this, Ninefox Gambit and (from a while ago) Ancillary Justice. I just found them too convoluted/complex/didn't flow - for me anyway.

Likewise on the 'Lighning and Auley's Something Coming Through..gonna try them again in a few months

 

[Contrarius]

I could not get into that book, and I just can't put my finger on why. Ahh well, plenty more books on the shelf...

There are soo many idiosyncratic reasons to like or dislike a particular narrative voice, even before you have the chance to like or dislike a particular plot or cast of characters. To each their own, and all that.

 

[Goldsmith]

Just picked up Hell Divers by Nicholas Smith from Union Square Barnes and Noble!

I had never heard of this writer so I did a quick search or two. Looks like my kind of book and writer in general. Really interested in hearing your opinion after you finish. Thanks.

 

[Diosces]

I had never heard of this writer so I did a quick search or two. Looks like my kind of book and writer in general. Really interested in hearing your opinion after you finish. Thanks.

Will do, I'm halfway thru and will comment when I finish it.

 

[Luke_B]

Started The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein. Very fast paced so far, carried by a hard-bitten, quippy prose style taken straight from a classic crime novel.

 

[Av Demeisen]

I just finished the first part of Fairyland. Very gripping so far.

The second part of Fairyland was grim and once again gripping. Highly recommended if dark, despairing tales can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[Contrarius]

I'm just past the middle of Too Like the Lightning -- another book that is not squarely in either the sf or f camps. I felt the need to post because I just came across that huge twist in the middle of the book that people who have read it will already know about, and my jaw's dropping and my brain is churning out bazillions of possible ways it could be developed through the rest of the book. The book just took a huge leap upward in my estimation, and I was already esteeming it pretty highly.

Now let's just hope it doesn't let me down in the second half!

 

[Westy]

Latest book read is Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan - a hard-boiled detective SF, in a future when individuals can "re-sleeve" themselves into new bodies after death.

Overall an impressive book (especially for a debut); lots of future-tech (sense-enhancers, futuristic weaponry), and the characters are especially world-weary and grim. The plot meandered a little, and it was a little long for my liking, but still a great read.

 

[Windshadow]

started (about 1/2 way into volume one) the Just One Damned Thing After Another (The Chronicles of St Mary's Book 1) series by Jodie Taylor, and I am enjoying the way the world and the constraints it puts on its version of time travel are working out so far...

My thanks to whoever recommended it

 

[J.J.Kane]

So far for February I managed to read Empire Games by Charles Stross. It is a wonderful gripping story, I really enjoy how he can create such absurd yet familiar worlds. The novel is the seventh in the Merchant Princess series but no prior exposure to the series is needed. I also read Revenger from Alastair Reynolds. And just like every other book he has written it manages to take over my thoughts. I loved it. At this moment I am reading The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter. It is a little bit difficult to get into, essentially it is a sequel to HG Wells's The War of the Worlds.

 

[Hobbit]

Hi JJ: three I've read! Stross was as impressive as ever, I just felt I was reading half a story. Revenger I LOVED, right up to the throw-away ending. The Massacre of Mankind I liked, though it is different. Great fun catching all the Sf references!

 

[mylinar]

I finished '2312' by Kim Stanley Robinson. So far this is my least favorite of his I have read. Despite a lot of attempts at character development I found myself completely disinterested in the main players. The story just did not catch me either. There were interesting parts, the writing was good, though the lists/extracts etc. interludes between chapters I actually found annoying. Overall I found it to be below average for a work by him. Perhaps it was disappointing as it got good enough reviews here, but everybody is different.

 

[Diosces]

I had never heard of this writer so I did a quick search or two. Looks like my kind of book and writer in general. Really interested in hearing your opinion after you finish. Thanks.

I finished it. Wanted to love it but didn't. Playing some favorite alternative music while reading helped me get thru it.
The biggest issue is it feels like you are reminded every several pages that some character or other is selfishly working to save the remnants of humanity.
Some ideas are cool but the science isn't well thought out.

 

[Goldsmith]

I finished it. Wanted to love it but didn't. Playing some favorite alternative music while reading helped me get thru it.
The biggest issue is it feels like you are reminded every several pages that some character or other is selfishly working to save the remnants of humanity.
Some ideas are cool but the science isn't well thought out.

Thanks for this. He has quite a few books out so I might give one a try anyway just to see. Doesn't sound like it was overly heavy reading. Was there a decent story at least or was the main focus the blood and gore of battle etc? along with the selfishly working to save humanity theme that you mentioned?

 

[Diosces]

Thanks for this. He has quite a few books out so I might give one a try anyway just to see. Doesn't sound like it was overly heavy reading. Was there a decent story at least or was the main focus the blood and gore of battle etc? along with the selfishly working to save humanity theme that you mentioned?

The story line was ok, some novel concepts but I had issue with the science on several fundamental mechanisms. The author appears well versed in skydiving as he tells a more confident story and convincing action takes place in scenes involving that activity.
If you on the fence I say buy the book.

 

[Sfinx]

Finished Heinlein's The moon is a harsh misstress and To sail beyond the sunset. Regarding the first: despite its age (1966) it still is a well-paced and topical novel - written in very typical but never annoying style, containing a number of Heinlein's favourite topics. Really enjoyed it. Sail beyond the sunset was a re-read - which, thankfully, did not disappoint. Very rich in ideas (and opinions the lives and loves of Maureen Johnson are a testament to Heinlein's writing - and visionary - skills.

Edit/PS: am typing this while my cat is occupying half of the keyboard - and will not be moved. I think R.H. would have approved

 

[Hobbit]

Edit/PS: am typing this while my cat is occupying half of the keyboard - and will not be moved. I think R.H. would have approved

They know, you know.

I've got these to reread. Mistress I'm looking forward to, Sunset less so.

Coincidentally I've just finished reading Have Spacesuit...Will Travel for the last of the RAH juvenile rereads. Got to admit, it was never my favourite (although I know it is for many). There are parts I liked, and by reading the books in order I can see and appreciate the progression in RAH's writing. He had clearly outgrown writing YA books by this one. I was hoping I would like Peewee more this time around, but, sadly, not the case. Still annoying.

So it's a little bitter-sweet, especially to finish the series on one I've not really liked.

I am thinking to possibly follow up with Starship Troopers and/or Podkayne of Mars, which are both sometimes regarded as juvenile - Troopers was, I understand, originally proposed as a juvenile but was declined.

But there's no rush. It's taken years so far!

 

[Sfinx]

I've got these to reread. Mistress I'm looking forward to, Sunset less so.

Can sympathise. Mistress is better written, is more concise and has a better story. But Sunset I read for the first time when i was a teenager - has a special place

My next one is (a re-read of) Stranger in a strange land. Then my miniature Heinlein collection is finished - unlike your envy-inspiring Virginia edition

 

[Hobbit]

Stranger's a weird one for me, in that I prefer the shorter version, which is getting harder and harder to get. The Virginia Edition is (surprise, surprise, as it's Virginia's choice!) the longer version. I have a copy on the Kindle as well, as too Starship Troopers. I'm quite tempted by Revolt in 2100 and Methusulah's Children as well, also on the Kindle.

Can't complain though - it's nice having the choice.